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Under some circumstances, candidates may need to add a Letter of Explanation (LoE) to their application. This can result from a missing document that could not be provided, an incoherence that might jump to the attention of the immigration officer reviewing your case, etc.
The LoE is also your way of communicating to immigration officers any supplementary information that is not on the documents uploaded and that you deem important for them to know.
The LoE is also your way of communicating to immigration officers any supplementary information that is not on the documents uploaded and that you deem important for them to know.
Where to add the Letter of Explanation (LoE)?
As there are multiple sections for uploading documents (Passport, Education, Proof of Work Experience, Medical Exam, etc.), you are only given the choice of uploading one PDF document (under 4MB) per section. This means that you need to write an LoE for each section (if needed of course), and add it to the rest of the documents relating to said section.
For example, if you are missing your Diploma because it has been lost, write an LoE explaining what happened and why you could not provide the Diploma, add it to the rest of the documents (WES report, transcripts, etc.) to form one PDF file. Then upload the PDF file in the Proof of Studies section.
We strongly advise you to put the LoE at the beginning of the PDF file. This ensures that the immigration officer reads the LoE first, and then goes on to the other documents attached to the LoE (if there are any).
If you cannot provide the documents per IRCC's requirements, we recommend that you add any other document that you can think of that would make the immigration officer believe that you are acting in good faith. To come back to the missing Diploma example, you can add a police report and/or a school receipt attesting that you have asked for a duplicate.
For example, if you are missing your Diploma because it has been lost, write an LoE explaining what happened and why you could not provide the Diploma, add it to the rest of the documents (WES report, transcripts, etc.) to form one PDF file. Then upload the PDF file in the Proof of Studies section.
We strongly advise you to put the LoE at the beginning of the PDF file. This ensures that the immigration officer reads the LoE first, and then goes on to the other documents attached to the LoE (if there are any).
If you cannot provide the documents per IRCC's requirements, we recommend that you add any other document that you can think of that would make the immigration officer believe that you are acting in good faith. To come back to the missing Diploma example, you can add a police report and/or a school receipt attesting that you have asked for a duplicate.
Letter of Explanation (LoE) sample
Click on the section below to see our LoE sample. You can also download the LoE Word document in French or English below.
Letter of Explanation - Sample
{Name}
{Address}
{Phone Number}
Subject: Letter of Explanation – {Appropriate Section}
Attached: (1) {document name 1}, (2) {document name 2}, (3) {document name 3}
{City, Date}
Dear Officer,
I am writing you this letter to explain some points that might have caught your attention when considering the attached documents relating to {Appropriate Section}. Please find the explanations below:
I am of course at your disposal to provide you with any additional documents that you deem useful for the processing of my electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR).
Thank you in advance for the time devoted to the treatment of my e-APR.
{Name}
Signature
{Address}
{Phone Number}
Subject: Letter of Explanation – {Appropriate Section}
Attached: (1) {document name 1}, (2) {document name 2}, (3) {document name 3}
{City, Date}
Dear Officer,
I am writing you this letter to explain some points that might have caught your attention when considering the attached documents relating to {Appropriate Section}. Please find the explanations below:
- {Problem statement and Explanation 1}
- {Problem statement and Explanation 2}
- {Problem statement and Explanation 3}
I am of course at your disposal to provide you with any additional documents that you deem useful for the processing of my electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR).
Thank you in advance for the time devoted to the treatment of my e-APR.
{Name}
Signature
Does the LoE need to be notarized?
No, the LoE does not need to be notarized since you are the one signing it.